Long-term ambassador for print, Holly Fulton stuck to her calling for her spring/summer 2014 collection, shown during London Fashion Week. Citing “soft focus pop siren, Noosha Fox” as her muse for the collection, Fulton showed a well thought-through, united line of 1970s-inspired pieces, re-envisioned with a contemporary twist.
The opening pieces were in light denim: T-shirts with rolled-up sleeves, semi-circular cut-out décolletages, and wide-legged trousers matched with cropped embellished jackets. These worked nicely alongside sheens of satin; the work-wear matte of the chambray offsetting delicate liquid fabrics. Peach and tangerine hues dominated the collection, complimenting whites and grey-blues. Pattern and embellishment were used in every imaginable sense: bold prints and big jewelled chokers adorned necks. It might sound like a bit much, but it worked. Fulton flirted with clashes and texture and the entire collection was united, each new look complimenting the one before, an achievement for such an enormous collection.
Florals were, of course, a theme with reference to Laura Ashley’s classic English prints, fan-shapes reigned throughout and sweatshirts were emblazoned with the number “77,” a nod to the era of inspiration and an injection of sport-chic casual into the collection. Most interesting was the combination of textures and pieces: dresses combining structured tops and billowing silk skirts, long smock-blouses worn over sheer, pleated midi-skirts, and even dresses and jackets made from cork (a mildly incongruous addition to the collection but whimsical, nonetheless).
Hair was scraped tightly into permed, side-ponytails and accessories included Swedish Hasbeen clogs, wide-brimmed hats which spoke of walks down the French Riviera, and oversized, fan-shaped clutches that will no doubt be omnipresent under the arms of the fashion-elite, come spring.
To finish, Fulton herself cheerfully walked a full lap of the catwalk, arm-in-arm with the final model, a proud grin on her face, and quite rightly so. This collection is thoroughly modern, fresh, and feminine without being overly saccharine-sweet.
